How to Protect Yourself
Source: keepmyid.org
Below are some tips to protect yourself from identity theft:
- Order your free credit reports every year:
- Write: Annual Credit Report Request Service P.O. Box 105281Atlanta, GA&; 30348-5281 Call toll free: 1-877-322-8228
- Go to: www.annualcreditreport.com (NOT www.freecreditreport.com)
Shred personal papers, receipts and junk mail
Opt-out of prescreened credit card offers:
- Call toll free: 1-888-567-8688
- Go online: Opt Out Prescreen
Read credit card and bank statements immediately
- Keep a record of all credit card and bank account numbers separate from your wallet.
Guard your social security number, other personal information and credit card numbers
- Don't provide personal information to any caller or respond to an e-mail message unless you have initiated the transaction.
- Don't reveal personal information on public phones or cell phones.
- For online purchases, be sure the lock or key icon on your browser's screen is whole.
Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Hotline: 1-877-IDTHEFT (438.4338)
Helpful Resources
- Consumer Financial Protection BureauCreated by Congress, the CFPB provides consumers with information and resources to educate them about financial service providers and they enforce consumer financial protection laws.
- How Not to Get Hooked by a Phishing Scam!From onguardonline.gov, this site offers helpful tips on recognizing and avoiding a phishing scam.
- Identity Theft (Federal Trade Commission)This site from the Federal Trade Commission offers advice on what to do right away, what to do next, as well as information on types of identity theft and safeguards to prevent identity theft.
- Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC)Their mission is to provide victim assistance, educate consumers, and "serve as a national resource on consumer issues related to cybersecurity, data breaches, social media, fraud, scams and other issues."
- Internal Revenue Service: Identity Protection InformationFrom the Internal Revenue Service, this site provides information regarding identity theft and covers a variety of scenarios and additional resources that may be helpful.
- LLRX (Law and Technology Resources for Legal Professionals)Provides an annotated bibliography of federal, state, and consumer and industry resources on Identity Theft (including national and Texas resources).
- Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: Identity Theft ResourcesThe Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) is a nonprofit consumer organization with a two-part mission: consumer information and consumer advocacy. This site provides fact sheets, videos, quizzes, speeches, and articles on identity theft & data breeches.
- Texas Attorney General Identity Theft InformationFrom the Texas Attorney General's Office, this Identity Theft site provides resources and guidelines for protecting yourself against identity theft, as well as testimonials of victims of identity theft.
- U.S. Department of Justice: Definitions & Information on Identity TheftA website that provides general information and contact information for the fraud section.
- Office of Justice Programs - Identity TheftThe Office of Justice Programs is a federal agency that provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. This page has resources and research on identity theft.
Books & E-Books from the Library
A comprehensive look at fraud identification and prevention [electronic book] by ISBN: 9781498700337Publication Date: 2015
